Worrying about whether North Melbourne are gettable is a trap Melbourne coach Mick Stinear won't get caught in.
To book an AFLW grand final spot, the Demons will have to complete a feat that no team has managed to do in 25 matches - beat the Kangaroos.
The unprecedented winning streak dates back to North's 2023 grand final loss to the Brisbane Lions.
Pundits have long viewed back-to-back premierships for North Melbourne as inevitable, with Stinear's side rated by bookmakers a $9 outsider for Saturday's clash despite finishing second on the ladder.
The two sides did not meet this season, but the Kangaroos have won their past two meetings and last snared victory by 50 points in 2024.
Melbourne remain alive in their hunt for a second premiership after eliminating Adelaide in a semi-final, while North have enjoyed a week off after defeating Hawthorn in a qualifying final.
Kangaroos coach Darren Crocker already boasts a healthy list but is weighing up a gamble on defender Eilish Sheerin, who hasn't played since round eight when she hurt her hamstring during the warm-up.
Mia King is also a chance of playing at Ikon Park, but the star midfielder has missed the last four matches with a PCL injury.
For his part, Stinear refuses to waste time sweating on what levers North could pull.
"If they need to make changes, we hope that might unsettle things a little bit ... we'll leave those decisions to them," Stinear said on Wednesday.
"We've probably fallen into the trap in the past of really trying to get caught up in the opposition.
"The group we've got are full of competitors, and every time I've coached this team, we believe we're a chance to win.
"That's no different on the weekend, so certainly not going out there to make out the numbers and be another notch on their belt.
"This team, they love playing with each other, and they're not ready for their season to be done."
If anything, Stinear believes the Demons are thriving despite the lack of rest.
"I actually think our group needed more footy," Stinear said.
"It would have been good to beat Brisbane and maintain that home prelim final, but the path that we've gone on is what's right for us."
Stinear hopes to also be near full strength against North Melbourne, with prolific goalkicker Eden Zanker (concussion) expected to resume her partnership with in-form captain Kate Hore.
The club were reprimanded by the AFL ahead of last week's semi-final for mishandling Zanker's concussion, which she suffered against Brisbane the match prior.
Zanker had passed a head injury assessment after a heavy bump in the first quarter against the Lions and returned to the field, but was later substituted out of the match before halftime.
Stinear was confident Zanker wasn't suffering from any lingering symptoms, while Demons defender Maeve Chaplin (hamstring) is also a test.
"(Zanker's) really well, hasn't had any setbacks along her rehab," Stinear said.
"(If) she recovers well and pulls up well from that, she should exit concussion protocol right at the end of the week."
Brisbane host Carlton at Brighton Homes Arena in the other preliminary final on Saturday night.
